Rep. Mano DeAyala

Maddy summaryHJR 161 proposes amending the Texas Constitution to explicitly prohibit non-citizen residents from voting in Texas elections. The bill would add "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a new category barred from voting, alongside existing restrictions for minors, those declared mentally incompetent, and convicted felons. If approved by voters in November 2025, this constitutional change would formally enshrine the current legal standard - non-citizens already cannot vote in Texas - into the state constitution. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2025 general election, with ballot language specifying the change. This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a new voting law.

Maddy summaryHB 5362 amends Texas election law to require third parties challenging a voter's registration to submit a sworn statement with specific, verifiable grounds. The bill mandates that challengers identify the voter and state exactly which registration qualification the voter lacks, based either on the challenger's personal knowledge or a fact from a reliable source (like public records). This change directly affects voters whose registrations might be challenged and the citizens or groups attempting such challenges. It aims to prevent vague or unsubstantiated challenges by requiring concrete evidence before a registration can be contested. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1160 increases criminal penalties for assaults against specific public service workers, upgrading certain offenses from misdemeanors to felonies. It directly affects utility employees, emergency personnel, security officers, process servers, hospital staff, and pregnant individuals when assaults occur during work duties or as retaliation for performing those duties. Key provisions include making it a felony to assault a utility employee while they are performing services, harass a security officer during duty, or assault a pregnant person to force an abortion. The bill applies when the actor knows the victim is performing a protected duty.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Texas licensing authorities to issue provisional occupational licenses for six months to applicants with criminal convictions who are otherwise qualified for the license, unless they have specific serious convictions listed in the Occupations Code. The provisional license begins upon the applicant's release from incarceration if they were imprisoned. It applies to most occupational licensing fields (like healthcare or trades) but excludes applicants convicted of offenses under Section 53.021(a). The bill provides a pathway for certain applicants to obtain licenses without full revocation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 5337 requires Texas voters to submit proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Applicants must provide documents like a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship papers to county registrars. If proof isn't submitted, voters would only qualify for a limited federal ballot under Chapter 115. The bill creates criminal penalties for failing to provide required documentation and amends election code sections to implement these requirements. This directly affects all new voter registrants in Texas seeking full voting rights.

Maddy summarySB 2 establishes a state-funded education savings account program in Texas, allowing eligible families to use public funds for approved educational expenses. The program directly affects Texas families with children who have disabilities or who live in low-income households (at or below 500% of the federal poverty level). The comptroller administers the program, funding accounts with state money that can cover approved education costs like tuition, books, or tutoring. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 3, 2025. This creates a new state-funded option alongside public schools for participating families.

Maddy summaryHB 5580 requires sheriffs in Texas counties with 100,000+ residents to seek written agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under federal Section 287(g), allowing local officers to enforce federal immigration law. Sheriffs in smaller counties may also pursue such agreements. The bill mandates that agreements specify scope, duration, and limitations, and requires sheriffs to allocate necessary resources for implementation. It also creates a competitive grant program to fund sheriffs in counties under 1 million population that have entered these agreements, supporting their participation through detailed implementation plans. The legislation directly affects county sheriffs and their departments across Texas.

Maddy summaryHB 463 automatically expunges arrest records for individuals charged with certain controlled substance offenses when their case is dismissed under specific conditions. It directly affects defendants whose charges are dismissed due to completion of court programs (veterans, mental health, or pretrial intervention), lab results showing no controlled substance was present, or dismissal due to lack of probable cause. The bill requires courts to issue expungement orders within 30 days of dismissal in cases where lab analysis confirms no controlled substance was found, and prohibits courts from charging fees for this process. This policy change removes barriers to clearing records for eligible individuals without requiring additional court petitions.

Maddy summaryHB 54, titled "Relating to the display of and allowance for non-human behaviors in Texas schools," is a procedural bill that amends school discipline requirements. It mandates that Texas public school districts include specific factors in their student conduct codes, such as self-defense, intent, disability considerations, and homelessness status, when making disciplinary decisions like suspensions or expulsions. The bill requires schools to post these codes prominently and consider these factors in all disciplinary actions. It does not ban specific activities but standardizes how schools evaluate student behavior. The bill is currently pending in the Education Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "state employee" to include specific peace officers working across Texas agencies, such as the Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, university security, and state commissions like Parks and Wildlife. It requires that peace officers commissioned as investigators by state entities (e.g., the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) be compensated according to Schedule C in the General Appropriations Act salary schedule. The bill standardizes compensation for these roles rather than addressing leave policies. It directly affects peace officers employed by state agencies including DPS, TDCJ, and university security departments.